Steve R. Bertil

Steve’s practice concentrates on representing property owners, community groups, community associations, small businesses, real estate investors, and developers on matters related to real estate development, zoning and land use, government and regulatory affairs, community development, code violations, commercial litigation, and tax assessment appeals. Steve also represents these parties in various real estate transactions or disputes.

Steve began his legal career as an Assistant City Solicitor with the Philadelphia Law Department representing various City agencies and departments, such as the Department of Licenses & Inspections, the Streets Department, and the Historical Commission, in all manners of code enforcement surrounding land use, zoning, and property maintenance.

More recently Steve acted as in-house counsel to the City of Philadelphia’s Division of Housing and Community Development, the Commerce Department, and the Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment & Opportunity; advising these City agencies on federal, state, and local laws and regulations that involve housing and economic development. In this role, Steve was frequently called on to shepherd public-private agreements between developers, lenders, and quasi-governmental agencies such as the Redevelopment Authority of Philadelphia, in furtherance of the City’s goals regarding property disposition.

Steve has experience appearing before the various administrative boards of the City of Philadelphia, including the Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Tax Review Board, and the Board of Licenses and Inspection Review. Steve also regularly handles cases before the Court of Common Pleas and he has filed appeals before the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.

Steve enjoys working closely with his clients to fully understand their needs and to create practical and efficient strategies for complex matters involving real estate and community development.